The  Locked  Chest 

The  Sweeps  of  Ninety- Eight 

John  Masefield 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


0 


THE  LOCKED  CHEST 


THE  SWEEPS  OF  NINETY-EIGHT 


This  edition,  of  which  this  is 
Number  ,v)X.  is  limited  and  is 
printed  from  type. 


//  .     //•/.>  ^ "//>' 

/ 


The   Locked   Chest 

and 

The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 


TWO  ONE  ACT  PLAYS 


BY 

JOHN  MASEFIELD 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

1916 

All  rights  resented 


COPYRIGHT,  1916 
BY  JOHN  MASEFIELD 
Published  September,  1916 


THE  LOCKED  CHEST 

A  Play  in  One  Act 
(From  a  Tale  in  the  Laxdaelasaga) 


LISRARf 


PERSONS 

THORD  GODDI  -  A  Farmer 

THOROLF 

INGIALD  -  A  Lord 

SOLDIERS       -  -  Adherents  of  Ingiald 

VIGDIS  GODDI  -  -         Wife  of  Thord 

SCENE 
Iceland 


THE   LOCKED   CHEST 

SCENE:  A  room.     A  chest  used  as  a  bench. 
A  table,  etc.    VIGDIS  embroidering  a  cloth. 

VIGDIS. 
{Singing.} 

My  love  is  drowned  in  the  Lowlands, 

Away.     Heigho. 
My  love  is  drowned  in  the  Lowlands, 

Lowlands  no  more. 

[Enter  THORD  GODDI] 

Well,  Thord.    I  hope  you  had  a  good  market. 
[Sings.] 

His  hair  is  cold  with  the  seaweed, 

Away.     Heigho. 
His  hair  is  cold  with  the  seaweed, 

Lowlands  no  more. 

Come  and  sit  down  by  the  fire,  won't  you? 
[Sings.] 

O  my  love  is  drowned  in  the  Lowlands, 
Away 

7 


8  The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 
For  heaven's  sake,  stop  it. 

VIGDIS. 
Stop  what? 

THORD. 
That  caterwauling. 

VIGDIS. 
Caterwauling? 

THORD. 

I'm  not  going  to  have  that  howling  when 
I've  got  a  headache 

VIGDIS. 

I'm  sorry  I  sang  when  you  had  a  head- 
ache.   I  didn't  know. 

THORD. 
I've  always  got  a  headache. 

VIGDIS. 
I'm  sorry,  Thord. 

THORD. 
O,  don't  "sorry"  me.     If  you're  so  sorry 


The   Locked   Chest  9 

as  all  that  there'd  have  been  a  nice  supper 
ready.    But  there.    It's  always  the  way. 

VIGDIS. 
Let  me  get  you  your  supper. 

THORD. 

O,  I  don't  want  it  now,  thanks,  I  couldn't 
eat  it.  Why  wasn't  it  ready  for  me,  the  mo- 
ment I  came  in? 

VIGDIS. 
But,  Thord.    My  dear  man. 

THORD. 

How  many  more  times  am  I  to  tell  you 
I  won't  be  "my  deared"  when  I've  a  head- 
ache? 

VIGDIS. 
I'm  sorry,  Thord. 

THORD. 

If  you  knew  how  much  it  aggravated. 
But  there.  You  only  do  it  to  drive  me  mad. 

VIGDIS. 
I  don't,  Thord. 


io          The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 

Contradict  me.     Do.     That's  right.     Con- 
tradict me.     I   suppose  you'll  say  next— 
But  there,  it's  always  the  way. 

VIGDIS. 
Thord! 

THORD. 

Now,   why  wasn't   supper   ready  the   mo- 
ment I  came  in? 

VIGDIS. 

You  said  you'd  be  home  late,  Thord,  and 
that  supper  wasn't  to  be  till  half-past  seven. 

THORD. 

You  might  have  known  the  fair  would  be 
a  bad  one. 

VIGDIS. 
Was  the  fair  a  bad  one? 

THORD. 
O,  use  your  sense.    Use  your  sense,  woman. 

VIGDIS. 
But  I  do,  Thord. 


The   Locked   Chest  1 1 

THORD. 

Would  I  be  here  at  this  time  if  the  fair 
had  been  a  good  one?  You  know  perfectly 
well  I  shouldn't. 

VIGDIS. 
I'm  so  sorry,  Thord. 

THORD. 

[Growling.]  Yes,  so  that  you  might  have 
more  money  to  spend  on  jewellery.  [He  sits 
dozen.]  I'm  tired. 

VIGDIS. 

Let  me  help  you  pull  your  boots  off.  [She 
pulls  a  boot  and  drops  it.] 

THORD. 

O,  for  Heaven's  sake. 

Didn't  I  tell  you  I'd  got  a  headache? 
But  there.  No,  I'll  take  off  the  other  my- 
self. I'm  tired  to  death. 

VIGDIS. 
Let  me  give  you  a  nip  of  brandy. 

THORD. 
Brandy?     With  a  headache?     You   know 


12  The   Locked   Chest 

brandy  nearly  kills  me.    Now  do  for  Heaven's 
sake  leave  me  alone. 

VIGDIS. 

You're  tired,  Thord.  You're  tired.  Lie 
down  on  the  chest,  and  rest  till  supper. 
You're  tired  to  death. 

THORD. 

I  wouldn't  be  tired  if  I  wasn't  driven 
half  mad  by  your  tongue.  A  plague  take 
all  wives  and  all  fairs. 

VIGDIS. 

Tell  me  about  the  fair,  Thord,  if  you're 
not  too  tired. 

THORD. 
I've  already  told  you  about  the  fair. 

VIGDIS. 
Were  there  many  people? 

THORD. 

Enough  to  fill  a  graveyard.  I'd  be  glad 
to  have  the  burying  of  some  of  them. 

VIGDIS. 

What's  the  news? 


The   Locked   Chest  13 

THORD. 
News  ?    What  d'ye  want  with  news  ? 

VIGDIS. 

But  I  like  to  hear  what's  going  on.  What 
were  they  talking  of? 

THORD. 
What  were  who  talking  of? 

VIGDIS. 
The  people  at  the  fair. 

THORD. 

None  of  their  business.  That's  what  they 
were  talking  of.  They  were  talking  of  a 
murder. 

VIGDIS. 
A  murder! 

THORD. 

[Shouting.]  A  murder.  Can't  you  pay 
attention  when  I'm  talking  to  you.  I  said 
a  murder.  Why  don't  you  listen? 

VIGDIS. 
Who  has  been  murdered? 


14          The    Locked   Chest 

THORD. 
I  didn't  say  anyone  had  been  murdered. 

VIGDIS. 
But  you  said 

THORD. 

But  I  said  nothing  of  the  sort.  There 
was  a  fight  down  on  the  beach  and  a  man 
was  killed. 

VIGDIS. 
What  man? 

THORD. 
That  big  swaggering  fellow  Hall. 

VIGDIS. 
Hall  ?    Brother  of  Ingiald  ? 

THORD. 

Yes.  Brother  of  Ingiald.  A  lout  he  was, 
too. 

VIGDIS. 
Who  killed  him? 

THORD. 
Does  it  matter  to  you  who  killed  him? 


The   Locked   Chest  15 

VlGDIS. 

No.    Only  I  would  like  to  know. 

THORD. 

You're  always  wanting  to  know.  You 
want  to  know  too  much.  What  was  Hall 
to  you  ? 

VIGDIS. 

Nothing.  My  cousin  was  his  partner. 
That's  all  I  know  about  him.  And  they 
used  to  quarrel  all  day,  as  though  they  were 
man  and  wife. 

THORD. 

I  suppose  that's  meant  for  me.  Well,  I 
don't  know  who  killed  him.  But  I  know 
this. 

VIGDIS. 
What? 

THORD. 
I  pity  the  man  who  did  it. 

VIGDIS. 
Why? 

THORD. 
Have  you  any  sense  at  all,  woman  ? 


1 6          The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

I  don't  see  why  he  should  be  pitied. 

THORD. 

Well,  I  do.  D'you  suppose  a  great  man 
like  Ingiald  will  let  his  brother's  murderer 
escape? 

VIGDIS. 
But  you  said  it  was  a  fight  on  the  beach. 

THORD. 

I  said.  I  said.  I  said.  Nag.  Nag.  Nag. 
Even  if  it  were,  d'you  suppose  a  man  like 
Ingiald  would  let  the  man  escape?  Ingiald'll 
hunt  him  down.  That  murderer's  a  doomed 
man. 

VIGDIS. 
Poor  fellow,  I  say. 

THORD. 
Serve  him  right,  I  say.    Serve  him  right. 

VIGDIS. 
I  wonder  who  it  was. 


The   Locked   Chest          17 

THORD. 

It  isn't  known  who  it  was.  Two  or  three 
are  suspected. 

VIGDIS. 
I  hope  it  wasn't  cousin  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

Well,  if  it  was  he  must  take  the  conse- 
quences. 

VIGDIS. 

That  man  Hall  was  a  sad  man  to  work 
with.  I  hate  to  speak  ill  of  a  dead  man; 
but  he  had  a  bad  name. 

THORD. 
He  was  a  drunken  boor. 

VIGDIS. 
He  went  for  Thorolf  with  an  axe  once. 

THORD. 

Well,  I  pity  the  man  who  went  for  him 
with  an  axe.  Is  supper  ever  going  to  come 
at  all?  Or  am  I  to  stay  talking  here  all 
night. 


1 8  The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

Won't  you  go  in  and  lie  down,  Thord? 
Supper  will  be  ready  in  a  moment. 

THORD. 

How  can  I  go  in  and  lie  down?  You  know 
perfectly  well  I've  got  to  see  to  the  chores. 
I  can't  trust  the  hired  men. 

VIGDIS. 
I'll  run  out  and  see  to  the  chores,  Thord. 

THORD. 

You?  I  can't  trust  you  to  get  supper, 
let  alone  do  the  chores.  No.  I  must  sacri- 
fice myself.  I've  got  a  headache  and  I'm 
half  dead.  But  there,  it's  always  the  way. 
I  must  do  a  thing  myself  if  I  want  it  done. 
Give  me  my  boots. 

VIGDIS. 

Let  me  go,  Thord.  I'll  see  the  cows  driven 
in  and  milked. 

THORD. 

Give — me — my — boots.  Don't  I  tell  you. 
Don't  tell  me  what  you'll  do  and  what  you'll 


The   Locked   Chest  19 

not  do.  There  [puts  on  boots]  I  thought  when 
I  came  in  I'd  have  time  to  rest  myself.  But 
there.  It's  always  the  way.  [Turns  to  go 
out.]  What  are  you  glowering  there  for? 
Go — and — get — the  supper  ready.  When 
you've  worn  me  to  my  grave  I  suppose  you'll 
be  glad.  You  do  make  me  so  mad. 

VIGDIS. 
I'll  have  supper  directly,  Thord. 

THORD. 

You  do  make  me  so  mad.  But  there.  It's 
always  the  way.  [He  goes  out.] 

VIGDIS. 

It's  a  pity  we've  no  child,  Thord  and  I. 
They  say  a  child  is  a  great  sweetener  in  a 
house.  If  we'd  a  child,  perhaps  he  wouldn't 
take  on  so.  Ah  well.  It  wasn't  like  this 
when  we  were  courting.  I  must  get  this 
table  clear.  If  I'd  had  a  child  now,  he'd 
have  been  different.  That's  what  a  wife 
must  expect.  Nothing  but  "O  my  head- 
ache," and  "O  if  I'm  not  tired."  I  only 
wanted  to  hear  about  the  murder.  It's  not 


20          The   Locked   Chest 

so  often  we  get  a  murder  to  talk  about. 
The  way  he  talks  you'd  think  we  had  one 
every  day.  So  Hall  is  murdered.  I  never 
liked  that  man.  I  wonder  who  killed  him. 
Well.  There's  one  comfort.  My  cousin 
Thorolf  wouldn't  go  for  to  kill  a  man.  Not 
even  Hall,  he  wouldn't.  He  wouldn't  kill 
a  fly,  my  cousin  Thorolf  wouldn't.  He's 
like  a  blessed  babe.  [The  door  at  the  back  is 
knocked  violently.}  Bless  us  and  save  us. 

VOICE. 
Let  me  in.    Let  me  in.    Vigdis.    Thord. 

VIGDIS. 
Who's  there? 

VOICE. 
Open.    Open.    For  God's  sake  let  me  in. 

VIGDIS. 
Enter.    If  you  be  of  God. 

VOICE. 
Open. 


The   Locked   Chest          21 

VlGDIS. 

[Running  to  door.]     Come  in.     Who's  there? 

[Enter  THOROLF.] 
Thorolf.    Cousin  Thorolf.    How  are  you. 

THOROLF. 
Stand  back.    Don't  kiss  me. 

VIGDIS. 
What's  the  matter,  Thorolf? 

THOROLF. 
Stand  back.    You  keep  your  hands  off. 

VIGDIS. 
But  I'm  your  cousin,  Thorolf. 

THOROLF. 

Yes.  But  perhaps  you  won't  be  quite  so 
glad  to  be  my  cousin  when  you  hear  the 
news. 

VIGDIS. 
What  news,  Thorolf? 

THOROLF. 
About  Hall. 


22  The    Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

He's  dead.    What  d'ye  mean,  Thorolf  ? 

THOROLF. 
I  killed  him,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 
You,  Thorolf? 

THOROLF. 

He  cheated  me.  O,  but  I  can't  go  into 
that.  So  we  fought,  and  I  killed  him.  It 
was  a  fair  fight.  I  didn't  want  to  kill  him, 
God  knows. 

VIGDIS. 

Men  have  no  sense  when  they  have  swords 
in  their  hands. 

THOROLF. 
It  was  a  fair  fight. 

VIGDIS. 

I'm  not  blaming  you,  Thorolf.  It  seems 
men  must  kill  each  other  from  time  to  time. 
But  what  are  you  going  to  do  now? 

THOROLF. 
What  indeed. 


The    Locked   Chest          23 

VlGDIS. 

You  know  what  it  means.  You  must 
know  what  it  means.  Do  they  know  you 
did  it? 

THOROLF. 

Ingiald  will  know  by  this. 

VIGDIS. 

But  you  know  what  Ingiald  is.  He'll 
be  after  you  to-night,  now.  Now.  What 
will  you  do?  What  you  will  do,  Thorolf? 

THOROLF. 
You're  my  cousin,  Vigdis  ? 

VIGDIS. 
Of  course  I'm  your  cousin. 

THOROLF. 

You  wouldn't  cast  me  off.  You  don't  think 
worse  of  me.  I  mean,  it  was  a  fair  fight. 
It  was  fair  and  square. 

VIGDIS. 

Of  course  I  won't  cast  you  off.  You're 
my  cousin.  Men  have  no  sense  at  any  time. 


24          The   Locked   Chest 

But  when  they  have  swords  in  their  hands— 
it  might  happen  to  anyone. 

THOROLF. 
Vigdis.    Will  you  stand  by  me? 

VIGDIS. 

You're  my  cousin,  Thorolf.  There's  my 
hand.  But  don't  waste  time  like  this.  Where 
will  you  hide?  Who  can  shelter  you  against 
Ingiald?  The  King  himself  could  hardly 
do  it.  It's  death  to  shelter  you.  Where  will 
you  go?  Think.  Think.  Where  will  you  go ? 

THOROLF. 

I  was  thinking  perhaps  you  would  shelter 
me. 

VIGDIS. 
I,  Thorolf? 

THOROLF. 
You  and  Thord. 

VIGDIS. 
And  Thord? 

THOROLF. 
I  was  thinking  perhaps  you  would. 


The   Locked   Chest          25 

VlGDIS. 

Against  Ingiald? 

THOROLF. 

Until  I  could  get  a  ship.    Only  till  I  could 
get  a  ship. 

VIGDIS. 
Against  a  man  like  Ingiald? 

THOROLF. 
I  know  it's  a  risk,  dear.    I  know  it's  a  risk. 

VIGDIS. 

You  know,  Thorolf,  my  man  Thord  isn't 
much  of  a  warrior. 

THOROLF. 

It  wouldn't  be  for  long,  dear.     If  I  could 
lie  low  a  night  or  two 

VIGDIS. 
What  should  we  be,  against  Ingiald? 

THOROLF. 

If  we   could  just  put   him   off  the   track, 
dear,  then  I  could  slip  down  to  Broadfirth 


26          The   Locked   Chest 

and  get  a  ship.     It  would  only  be  a  night  or 
two. 

VIGDIS. 

Thord  is  Thord.  And  I'm  only  a  woman, 
and  women  aren't  much  good  in  a  case  of 
this  sort. 

THOROLF. 
Let  me  stay,  Vigdis.    Will  you? 

VIGDIS. 
I  wish  I  could  think  of  a  plan. 

THOROLF. 
Where  else  can  I  go? 

VIGDIS. 

Go?  You  won't  go  anywhere.  You'll 
just  stay  here,  where  you  are.  Don't  worry 
yourself  about  that.  It's  Ingiald  and  Thord 
I'm  thinking  of. 

THOROLF. 

My  God,  Vigdis,  you're  good.  I'll  kiss 
you  for  that. 

VIGDIS. 
Oh,    none   of   your   nonsense,    now.      This 


The   Locked   Chest          27 

is  no  kissing  matter.  No,  you  can't  stay  in 
here.  Let  go  my  hand,  or  I'll  box  your 
ears.  Come  this  way,  now.  I'll  shut  you 
up  in  the  sheep-fold.  Quickly,  now,  before 
my  husband  comes.  [Goes  out  at  side  door.] 

THOROLF. 

I've  only  got  to  put  Ingiald  off  the  track, 
dear.  Old  Hrut  will  get  me  a  ship. 

VIGDIS. 

Put  Ingiald  off  the  track  first,  my  friend. 
We'll  think  of  the  ship  later.  Come  along. 
[Exeunt.] 

[The  other  side  door  opens,  and  re-enter 
THORD.] 

THORD. 

Vigdis.  Vigdis.  Is  supper  ready  yet? 
Now  if  that  isn't  too  bad.  What's  the  woman 
thinking  of?  Vigdis,  I  say.  It's  not  enough 
that  I  have  a  headache,  and  get  fairly  fratted 
to  death,  but  I'm  to  be  kept  waiting  for  my 
supper.  Vigdis.  Vigdis,  I  say.  [Enter  VIG- 
DIS.] 

VIGDIS. 

What  is  it,  Thord? 


28  The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 

What    is    it?      Supper.      Where's    supper. 
Why  on  earth  isn't  supper  ready? 

VIGDIS. 
I've  had  a  visitor,  Thord.    A  guest. 

THORD. 
A  guest,  eh.    Who  invited  him? 

VIGDIS. 

No  one  invited  him.  He's  a  sort  of  a  re- 
lation of  mine. 

THORD. 

So  it  is  a  he.  How  long  am  I  to  be  tor- 
tured with  him? 

VIGDIS. 

I'd  like  him  to  stay  for  some  time.  If 
you  don't  mind,  Thord. 

THORD. 

You  know  I  mind.  You  know  as  well  as 
I  do  I  can't  abide  strangers  in  the  house. 
They  make  this  house  just  like  an  inn.  Ex- 
cept that  they  never  pay  for  what  they 
have.  I  will  not  put  up  with  it.  It's  enough 


The   Locked   Chest          29 

that  I'm  half  mad  With  headache,  but  I 
must  have  a  stranger  in  the  house.  But  there. 
It's  always  the  way.  Who  is  this  stranger? 
Is  he  respectable? 

VIGDIS. 

He's  a  sort  of  relation  of  mine.  I  told  you 
just  now. 

THORD. 

A  relation.  If  it  had  been  a  stranger  I 
wouldn't  have  minded;  but  to  have  a  rela- 
tion. And  I  shall  have  to  be  civil  to  him. 
Vigdis,  I  do  think  you  might  have  had  a 
little  thought  of  me.  But  there.  You  think 
of  no  one  but  yourself.  It's  always  the  way 
with  you  women. 

VIGDIS. 
It  won't  be  for  long,  Thord. 

THORD. 

I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Vigdis.  If  he's  re- 
spectable he  may  stay  the  night  and  go  on 
before  breakfast.  If  he's  one  of  these  rowdy 
fellows,  or  if  he's  in  trouble,  I'll  not  have 
him  near  the  place.  I'll  put  the  dogs  on  him 
myself. 


30          The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

You  cannot,  Thord.  I've  already  taken 
him  in.  I  can't  go  back  on  my  word.  I've 
promised  him  shelter  now. 

THORD. 

Shelter? 

VlGDIS. 

You  see  he's  in  trouble. 

THORD. 
What  trouble?    Who  is  he,  once  for  all? 

VlGDIS. 

Cousin  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

Thorolf!  What's  he  been  doing?  He's 
an  idle  blackguard,  Thorolf. 

VlGDIS. 

He's  not. 

THORD. 

He  is,  I  say.  Don't  contradict.  What's 
he  been  doing? 


The   Locked   Chest  3  i 

VlGDIS. 

There   was  ...      It   was  ...      It   was    a 
fair  fight,  Thord. 

THORD. 
A — fair — fight.    You — don't — mean 


VlGDIS. 

Down  on  the  beach. 

THORD. 

Not  ...    No  ...    Not  Hall? 

VlGDIS. 

Yes.    He  killed  Hall. 

THORD. 
Ingiald's  brother. 

VlGDIS. 

Ingiald's  brother. 

THORD. 

And  you've  been  such  a  fool  as  to  take 
him  in.  To  take  in  Hall's  murderer.  In- 
giald's brother's  murderer. 


32  The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

It  was  a  fair  fight,  Thord. 

THORD. 

It — was — a — fair    fight.      A — fair — fight. 
Ingiald's  brother.     A  fair  fight. 

VIGDIS. 
They  fought  with  swords. 

THORD. 

In  my  house.  Here.  Ingiald's  brother's 
murderer.  And  you've  let  him  in.  Where 
is  he? 

VIGDIS. 

In  the  sheep-fold  at  the  back  of  the  house, 
for  the  present.  That's  a  good  place.  They'd 
never  look  among  the  sheep. 

THORD. 

My  head  is  like  the  seven  mills  of  Mill- 
town.  In  my  house.  O,  my  head.  O  mis- 
erable man.  It'll  be  my  death.  It's  not 
enough  that  I  must  have  a  headache,  and 
come  home  tired  out,  but  I  must  have  Ingiald 
down  on  me.  He'll  burn  the  house.  He 


The   Locked  Chest          33 

will.  He  will.  I  know  Ingiald.  He'll  burn 
the  house.  He's  sure  to  find  out.  And  if 
he  doesn't  burn  the  house  he'll  put  a  blood- 
fine  on  me.  He'll  fine  me  a  flock  of  sheep. 
It's  not  enough  that  I'm  fratted  to  death 
and  find  no  supper  ready,  but  I  must  lose 
my  cattle  and  be  murdered  in  my  bed.  But 
there,  it's  always  the  way. 

VIGDIS. 

You'll  be  nothing  of  the  sort.  Have  pity 
on  poor  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

Pity.  Let  poor  Thorolf  show  a  little  pity 
on  me.  I'm  a  ruined  man.  Ingiald  will 
drag  me  up  and  down  by  the  hair.  He'll 
hit  me  in  the  ribs  with  his  great  fists.  He 
will.  He  will.  I  know  Ingiald.  And  you 
go  and  take  in  a  murderer.  A  murderer. 
If  it  had  been  a  murderer  of  some  common 
man  I  wouldn't  have  minded.  But  the  mur- 
derer of  Ingiald's  brother. 

VIGDIS. 

I  tell  you  it  was  not  a  murder.  Thorolf 's 
no  murderer.  He's  like  a  woman  in  most 


34          The   Locked   Chest 

things,  Thorolf  is.     I  tell  you  it  was  not  a 
murder.    It  was  a  fair  fight. 

THORD. 

So  Ingiald'll  say.  Yes,  he'll  say.  I'll  take 
your  sheep,  he'll  say.  And  them  nice  cows 
too,  Thord,  he'll  say.  It  was  a  nice  fair 
fight,  he'll  say,  so  now  I'll  burn  you  in  your 
bed.  I  know  Ingiald.  Ahoo.  Ahoo. 

VIGDIS. 

Well.  I  wouldn't  be  a  cry  baby.  There's 
worse  things  than  being  burned  in  our  beds. 
Come.  Be  a  man,  Thord.  One  would  think 
you  were  afraid  of  dying. 

THORD. 

O  hold  your  nagging  tongue,  for  God's 
sake.  Ahoo.  Ahoo. 

VIGDIS. 

It  will  all  come  right,  Thord.  Look.  I'll 
get  you  some  nice  supper. 

THORD. 

You'll  drive  me  mad  in  another  minute. 
Supper,  Ingiald's  knife'll  be  the  only  supper 


The   Locked   Chest          35 

I  shall  have.    Hold  your  nagging  tongue,  and 
let  me  die  in  peace. 

VIGDIS. 

It's  very  likely  that  we'll  have  Ingiald 
here  before  long.  He's  not  a  man  to  wait 
on  the  road.  He  comes  like  an  eagle,  Ingiald 
does. 

THORD. 
O  what  shall  I  do?    What  shall  I  do? 

VIGDIS. 

Do?  Put  a  bold  face  on  it.  There's  no 
danger  where  there's  no  fear.  Look  him  in 
the  face  and  tell  him  to  walk  out  of  here. 

THORD. 

He  may  be  coming  now.  Look  out  at 
the  door,  Vigdis.  Is  he  coming? 

VIGDIS. 

There's  someone  coming.  It's  a  party  of 
men.  A  dozen,  quite. 

THORD. 
O,  I'm  not  fit  to  die.    I'm  not. 


36          The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

Be  a  man.  They're  coming  quickly. 
They'll  be  here  in  a  minute.  Yes.  It's 
Ingiald.  There's  his  red  cloak.  He's  walk- 
ing ahead  of  the  rest.  Be  a  man  now,  Thord. 
It'll  be  all  right. 

THORD. 
O!    O! 

VlGDIS. 

Can  you  think  of  any  better  plan  than 
the  sheep-fold? 

THORD. 
O! 

VlGDIS. 

O,  why  didn't  I  marry  a  man?  You  don't 
think  he'd  look  in  the  sheep-fold,  with  all 
the  sheep  in  it?  I'm  sure  he  wouldn't. 

THORD. 

O,  Thorolf's  all  right.  It's  myself  I'm 
thinking  of.  It's  myself.  O! 

VlGDIS. 

I  wonder  you  aren't  ashamed. 


The   Locked   Chest          37 

THORD. 

I  was  getting  on  so  well.  I'd  have  been 
able  to  buy  Rapp's  field  next  year 

VlGDIS. 

Think  of  poor  Thorolf.  Brace  up,  man. 
Ingiald'll  suspect  at  once  if  he  sees  you  like 
that.  What's  your  life?  What's  my  life? 
It's  our  guest's  life  that  matters. 

THORD. 

An  idle  vagrant's  life  better  than  mine? 
If  it  had  been  the  king,  now. 

VIGDIS. 

Thord,  brace  yourself.  Thorolf's  safe  in 
the  sheep-fold.  Ingiald  can  prove  nothing. 
Your  guest's  life  depends  on  the  way  you 
look.  Don't  flop  there  like  a  done-out  old 
gather-up  of  a  bachelor.  Swell  your  chest 
out.  Put  a  scowl  on,  like  a  Viking.  That's 
better.  Here  they  are. 
[A  knock  at  the  door.} 

THORD. 
O,  I'm  a  dead  man. 


38  The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

O,  I  could  shake  you.     For  Thorolf's  sake, 
perk  yourself. 
[A  knock.} 
Come  in.    Go  and  open  the  door,  Thord. 

THORD. 

I  can't.  How  can  you  ask  me  to  open 
the  door? 

[A  knock.] 

VIGDIS. 
Go  on,  Thord.    Go.    Open,  man. 

THORD. 

Vigdis.      You    don't    mind.      You    open. 
Your  nerves  aren't  like  mine. 

VIGDIS. 
Quick,  Thord.    It's  for  the  host  to  open. 

VOICES. 

Open   within    there.      Open    in    the    name 
of  the  law. 

VIGDIS. 

I    must   open,    then.      [Goes    to    the   door.] 
Come  in,  come  in. 


The   Locked   Chest          39 

[Enter  INGIALD  and  MEN-AT-ARMS.] 

INGIALD. 
God  save  all  here.    Thank  you,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 

My  man's  not  quite  himself,  to-night. 
Lord  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 

I'm  sorry  to  hear  that.  What  pin  pricks 
now,  Thord? 

THORD. 
Ah.    Oh. 

INGIALD. 

[Looking  keenly  at  both  of  them.}  I  should 
have  thought  life  was  pretty  quiet  up  here. 
No  fighting.  No  gambling.  No  anxiety 

VIGDIS. 

My  man  gets  run  down,  Lord  Ingiald. 
It's  going  to  these  fairs  that  does  it.  I've 
known  him  come  home  in  a  way  of  speaking, 
and  he'd  be  all  cold,  like  a  dead  man.  It's 
the  nerves  and  that  on  the  brain.  [A  pause.} 
What  could  I  do  for  you,  Lord  Ingiald  ?  Will 
you  not  sit  down?  Is  there  anything  you 


40          The   Locked   Chest 

would  like  to  take?  It's  not  often  we  see 
you  up  here.  Why,  I  don't  think  I've  seen 
you,  not  since  last  October  twelve  month. 

INGIALD. 

No.    I  daresay  not.    [He  goes  over  to  THORD 
and  bangs  him  on  the  shoulder.} 

THORD. 
Ow.    What  is  it,  Ingiald  ?    Don't. 

INGIALD. 
I  want  to  have  a  talk  with  you,  my  friend. 

THORD. 

A — a  talk.    O  yes.    Yes,  that.    Yes.    Very 
nice. 

INGIALD. 

[To  his  men.]     Go  out  and  stand  by  the 
door.    Don't  budge  till  I  tell  you. 

MEN. 

Ay,  ay,  sir. 

[Exeunt.] 

VlGDIS. 

Wouldn't  your  men  be  pleased  to  take  a 


The   Locked   Chest          41 

drop  of  something?  You've  surely  not  come 
all  the  way  from  Sheep  Isles.  What  is  it 
we  could  do  for  you,  Lord  Ingiald?  Perhaps 
you  would  let  me  hear  it.  My  man's  not 
himself  to-night.  Were  you  wanting  any 
hands  to  help  get  your  harvest  in?  Tell  me 
what  it  is. 

INGIALD. 

Thank  you,  Vigdis.  I  want  to  have  a 
talk  with  Thord,  here. 

THORD. 

I — I'm  so  ill,  Ingiald.  It's  the  weather. 
Vigdis  will  do  any  business.  My  head.  My 
head  is  bad.  I'm  a  martyr  to  my  head  in 
wet  weather. 

INGIALD. 

I  know  what  it  is.  My  own  head  gives 
me  tortures.  But  I  must  have  a  talk  with 
you.  Perhaps  you  would  ask  your  wife  to 
mull  me  a  little  ale? 

VIGDIS. 

You  must  let  me  mull  it  in  here,  then. 
The  kitchen  fire's  out. 


42  The   Locked   Chest 

INGIALD. 

I  should  be  delighted;  but  my  nerves  can't 
bear  the  smell  of  ale  being  mulled.  It  al- 
ways upsets  me.  [To  THORD.]  Perhaps  you 
would  ask  your  wife  to — to  look  at  the  sunset. 
Most  beautiful  sunset,  outside. 

VIGDIS. 

Yes,  we  were  looking  at  it  this  last  half 
hour. 

INGIALD.. 

I  see.  Well.  Vigdis.  I  must  talk  to 
Thord  here  privately.  Will  you  go  into  the 
next  room?  I  won't  keep  you  long. 

VIGDIS. 

Certainly,  Lord  Ingiald.  Now,  I  won't 
have  you  telling  my  man  about  any  of  those 
naughty  baggages  at  Reykjavik.  He  knows 
quite  enough,  already. 

INGIALD. 

I  won't  mention  a  single  baggage.  [He 
calls  to  a  SOLDIER.]  Erik,  just  attend  the 
lady  for  a  moment.  [Aside  to  SOLDIER.]  See 
she  doesn't  leave  the  room. 


The   Locked   Chest          43 

VlGDIS. 

I  know  you  men.  [She  tries  to  catch  THORD'S 
eye.]  Ill  make  him  repeat  every  word  you  say. 
[She  goes  out  unconcernedly.} 

INGIALD. 

[Aside.]  Well.  If  you're  not  a  wonder. 
[Sharply.]  Now  Thord,  my  friend,  I've  got 
only  one  thing  to  say  to  you.  Where's 
Thorolf? 

THORD. 
Thorolf. 

INGIALD. 
Well? 

THORD. 
Which  Thorolf  would  that  be? 

INGIALD. 
You  know  quite  well  which  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

O,  you  mean  old  Thorolf  of  the  Ridge? 
Ah  yes.  A  fat  man.  He 

INGIALD. 
Now,  Thord.    [Glares  at  him.} 


44          The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 

O,    young    Thorolf.      Koll    o'Dales'    lad. 
He  goes  to  school,  now. 

INGIALD. 

[Rapping  the  table.]    Thord. 

THORD. 
Don't,  Ingiald.    You  put  a  fellow  out  so. 

INGIALD. 

Where's  Thorolf.     Vigdis's   cousin.     Your 
cousin,  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

Ha,  ha,  ha!     That  Thorolf.    Yes.    An  idle 
blackguard.     Yes. 

INGIALD. 
Yes.    That  Thorolf.    Where  is  he? 

THORD. 
I've  not  seen  him,  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 

I    suppose   you've   not   heard    about   him, 
either? 


The   Locked   Chest          45 

THORD. 

No. 

INGIALD. 
Not?    Sure? 

THORD. 

No.     I  mean  yes.     Of  course  I've  heard 
about  him. 

INGIALD. 
About  what  he  has  done  to-day  ? 

THORD. 
I  didn't  know  he  did  anything  to-day. 

INGIALD. 
You  heard  about  my  brother? 

THORD. 

Your    poor    brother,    Hall?      Yes,    I    was 
truly  grieved.    I  was  quite  upset. 

INGIALD. 

That's  what  Thorolf  did. 

THORD. 
Thorolf? 


46          The   Locked   Chest 

INGIALD. 
Now  where  is  he  ? 


THORD. 
Your  brother? 

INGIALD. 
I  see.    You  won't  answer. 

THORD. 

Now  don't  be  hasty,  Ingiald.  You're  so 
hasty.  You  don't  give  me  a  chance.  What 
is  it  you  want  to  know? 

INGIALD. 
Where  is  Thorolf  ? 

THORD. 

I've  not  seen  him,  Ingiald.  How  should 
I  know  where  Thorolf  is  ? 

INGIALD. 
He  was  seen  coming  towards  this  house. 

THORD. 

Towards  this  house? 


The   Locked   Chest          47 

INGIALD. 
Only  an  hour  ago. 

THORD. 
Thorolf? 

INGIALD. 
No  more  talk,  my  friend.  Where  is  he? 

THORD. 
I  don't  know,  Ingiald.  I  don't  know. 

INGIALD. 

You    lying    knave.      You    creeping   worm. 

You    dog    of .      I'll    ram    this    scabbard 

down  your  throat.  You  say  you  don't  know. 
Where  is  he?  Any  more  of  your  lies  and  I'll 
squeeze  your  lying  tongue  off. 

THORD. 

Don't,   Ingiald.     Don't.     You're   hurting. 
Don't,  man. 

INGIALD. 
Well.  No  more  of  your  lies,  then. 

THORD. 

Now  you've  hurt  me.     I  shall  have  a  sore 
throat  for  a  week. 


48  The   Locked   Chest 

INGIALD. 

Do  you  good.  [A  pause.}  Now  then, 
Thorolf's  here.  Isn't  he.  Hey? 

THORD. 
Yes,  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 

I  thought  we  should  come  to  it  sooner 
or  later.  See  what  comes  of  being  patient. 
So  he's  here.  Hidden  somewhere? 

THORD. 
Yes,  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 
Where  is  he  hidden? 

THORD. 

O,  but  I  couldn't  tell  you  that.  If  I  told 
you  that  I'd  have  to  leave  the  country.  No 
one  would  speak  to  me,  if  I  told  you  that. 

INGIALD. 

That's  nothing  to  do  with  me.  Now 
then.  Where  is  he? 


The   Locked   Chest          49 

THORD. 
O,  I  couldn't. 

INGIALD. 
Hey? 

THORD. 

I'd  have  to  leave  this  farm.  Have  mercy, 
Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 
Mercy,  eh? 

THORD. 

I  couldn't  bear  it.  I'm  not  strong,  Ingiald. 
My  head. 

INGIALD. 
D'ye  see  this  little  knife  of  mine? 

THORD. 

O,  don't,  Ingiald.  Ingiald,  you  don't 
mean.  Ingiald,  I'd  have  to  leave  the  country 
if  I  told  you. 

INGIALD. 

Look  here,  Thord.  I'm  going  to  get  Thorolf 
before  I  go.  Let's  understand  each  other. 

THORD. 
O,    yes,    Ingiald.      I'll    do    anything.      I'll 


50  The   Locked   Chest 

say  anything.     But  I   can't  tell  you   where 
he  is.    I  can't.    I'd  have  to  leave  the  country. 

INGIALD. 

Well.  You  needn't  tell  me  where  he  is. 
Not  in  so  many  words.  D'ye  understand? 

THORD. 
O,  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 

Let's  come  to  some  arrangement.  You 
don't  want  your  neighbours  to  call  you  a 
traitor.  I  understand  that.  You  don't 
want  me  to  burn  your  house  down,  or  to 
stick  this  knife  into  you.  I  understand 
that,  too.  Well.  You  give  up  Thorolf  to 
me  quietly. 

THORD. 

I  can't,  Ingiald.  They'd  know.  They'd 
know.  Vigdis  would  tell  them. 

INGIALD. 
I  don't  say  "betray  him,"  you  silly  gowk. 

THORD. 
But  what  then,  Ingiald? 


The   Locked   Chest          5  i 

INGIALD. 

Give  me  some  hint  where  he  is,  so  that 
I  can  find  him.  I'll  pretend  to  search  the 
house,  and  light  on  him,  as  it  were,  by  chance. 
Come  now. 

THORD. 
But 

INGIALD. 

Come  now.  D'ye  see  this  bag?  [Pro- 
duces a  purse.] 

THORD. 
Yes. 

INGIALD. 

D'ye  hear  it?  Eh?  Chink.  Eh?  Chink? 
Where  is  he? 

THORD. 
I  couldn't. 

INGIALD. 

Come  now.  Hark?  Three  silver  marks. 
Eh?  Just  whisper.  Where?  Come  now. 

THORD. 

Three  silver  marks. 


52  The   Locked   Chest 

INGIALD. 

Three  silver  marks.  You  needn't  say  it 
right  out.  Hear  it  jingle. 

THORD. 
It's  a  lot  of  money. 

INGIALD. 

You  could  do  with  it,  eh?  Come  now, 
old  man,  where  is  he? 

THORD. 
Let  me  weigh  it  in  my  hand. 

INGIALD. 

Certainly.  Here  you  are.  Now  then. 
Whisper  here.  Where  is  he?  Tell  me  where 
he  is.  Where  is  he?  Is  he  in  the  chest  here? 

THORD. 
No,  not  in  the  chest. 

INGIALD. 
No?    What  is  in  the  chest? 

THORD. 
Things  of  Vigdis's. 


The   Locked   Chest          53 

INGIALD. 
Is  he  upstairs,  then?    Eh?    Upstairs? 

THORD. 
No.    He's  not  upstairs. 

INGIALD. 

Outside  ?    Eh  ? 

THORD. 
[Putting  the  bag  on  the  table.}    Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 
Yes.    Well.    What  is  it? 

THORD. 
You  won't  take  it  to  heart  my  hiding  him? 

INGIALD. 
No.    No.    Of  course  I  won't. 

THORD. 

Swear   you   won't.     You   won't   fine   me? 
Nor  take  my  cattle? 

INGIALD. 

Not  if  you  tell  me  where  he  is. 


54  The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 

You'll  search  the  house  first,  Ingiald.  In 
pretence  ? 

INGIALD. 

Yes.  I'll  pretend  to  search  the  house. 
And  then? 

THORD. 
You  see  that  door  there? 

INGIALD. 
Yes.    Yes.    What  then? 

THORD. 

You  must  go  through  that  door.  No. 
No.  Go  through  this  door,  and  then  round 
the  house. 

INGIALD. 
Yes  ?    Where  to  ?    Among  the  ricks  ? 

THORD. 
No.    Not  among  the  ricks. 

INGIALD. 
In  the  dairy? 

THORD. 
You  might  look  in  the  dairy. 


The   Locked   Chest          55 

INGIALD. 

Where  else,  eh  ? 

THORD. 
Just  to  the  left  of  the  dairy. 

INGIALD. 
The  cowbyre,  eh? 

THORD. 

No.    No.    You  might  look  in  the  cowbyre, 
though. 

INGIALD. 
Where  else? 

THORD. 

Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 
Yes. 

THORD. 

Swear  you  won't  tell  any  one.     Swear  you 
won't  say  I  told  you. 

INGIALD. 
Of  course  I  won't  tell  anyone. 


56          The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 

You  might  count  the  sheep.     You  under- 
stand? 

INGIALD. 
To  the  left  of  the  dairy,  eh  ? 

THORD. 

To  the  left  of  the  dairy. 

INGIALD. 
I'll  see  them  counted.    Thank'ee,  Thord. 

THORD. 
Now,  you'll  pretend  to  look  upstairs? 

INGIALD. 
Yes.    We'll  let  in  Vigdis,  now. 

THORD. 

No,  not  Vigdis,  no. 

INGIALD. 
Yes,  man.    Hey  there.    Erik! 

ERIK. 

Sir. 


The   Locked   Chest          57 

INGIALD. 
Tell  the  lady  to  come  in. 

ERIK. 

Tell  the  lady  to  come  in,  sir.  You  may 
go  in  now,  mum. 

[Enter  VIGDIS.] 

VlGDIS. 

Well.    Have  you  had  a  nice  talk? 

INGIALD. 

No.  Not  so  nice  as  I  could  have  wished, 
perhaps.  Your  husband's  very  low  to-night. 
Excuse  me  a  moment.  Hi  there.  Hrapp, 
Hoskuld. 

SOLDIERS. 

[Entering.]    Sir.    Sir. 

INGIALD. 

I'm  sorry,  Vigdis.  But  I  must  search 
the  house.  Your  husband  has  given  me 
permission.  I  must  look  through  all  the 
rooms. 

VIGDIS. 
Search  my  house,  indeed. 


58  The   Locked   Chest 

INGIALD. 

I  won't  disarrange  it  more  than  can  be 
helped. 

VIGDIS. 

Search  my  house,  indeed.  For  what  will 
you  search  my  house? 

INGIALD. 
For  your  cousin,  Thorolf. 

VIGDIS. 

My — cousin — Thorolf.  And  why  should 
you  want  my  cousin  Thorolf,  I  should  like 
to  know? 

INGIALD. 

Come,  Vigdis,  I'm  sorry.  Now  don't 
let's  have  a  scene. 

VIGDIS. 

A  scene,  indeed.  And  why  should  you 
have  a  scene?  I'm  not  going  to  have  my 
house  pulled  to  pieces. 

INGIALD. 
They  won't  do  any  harm,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 
Harm  or  no  harm,   I  won't  have  anyone 


The    Locked   Chest  59 

spying  around  in  my  house.  I  never  heard 
of  such  impudence.  This  is  my  house.  It 
isn't  Thorolf  s  house.  What  d'ye  want  Tho- 
rolf  for? 

INGIALD. 

You  know  perfectly  well,  Vigdis,  what 
I  want  Thorolf  for. 

VIGDIS. 

[To  THORD.]  And  I'm  to  be  insulted  in 
my  own  house!  I  wonder  you  sit  there 
and  let  your  wife  be  insulted.  As  for  you, 
Ingiald,  for  all  your  lordship,  you  never  had 
more  manners  than  one  brought  up  in  a  pig- 
stye.  It  is  what  I  might  expect  from  you. 
But  as  for  you,  Thord,  I'm  ashamed  of  you. 
Defend  your  wife,  man.  Don't  let  these 
louts  throw  the  whole  house  overboard. 

INGIALD. 

[To  his  men.]  Upstairs  with  you.  Search 
every  room  in  the  house. 

VIGDIS. 

How  dare  you  insult  a  woman  so.  You 
great  captains  want  humbling.  If  I  were  a 
man  now,  you  wouldn't  dare. 


60  The   Locked   Chest 

ERIK. 
[To  INGIALD.]    Beg  pardon,  captain. 

INGIALD. 

What  is  it? 

ERIK. 
That  box,  captain.    [Points  to  chest.] 

INGIALD. 
Well.    What  about  it? 

ERIK. 

I  was  thinking  he  might  be  in  that  box. 

INGIALD. 
O,  nonsense.    Upstairs  with  you. 

[They  all  run  upstairs.] 

[To  THORD.]     You  come,  too,  Thord.     If 
anything's  missing  you'll  blame  my  men. 

THORD. 

[Aside.]      Let    Vigdis    go,    Ingiald.      Take 
Vigdis. 

INGIALD. 

[Glancing  at  her.]   No.   She  suspects  nothing. 
You  come. 


The   Locked   Chest          61 

THORD. 

No.  I  don't  think  she  suspects.  No, 
she  suspects  nothing. 

VIGDIS. 
Where  are  you  going,  Thord? 

THORD. 
Upstairs  with  Ingiald. 

VIGDIS. 

Am  I  married  to  a  man  or  to  a  bleating 
old  sheep  with  the  staggers.  Do  you  call 
yourself  a  human  being,  Thord?  [Aside.] 
What's  Ingiald  going  to  do? 

INGIALD. 
Come,  Thord.    Come  on,  now. 

THORD. 

[To  VIGDIS.]  Get  supper  ready.  Don't 
stand  there. 

[Exit  with  INGIALD.] 

VIGDIS. 

Get  supper  ready.  Get  supper  ready. 
What's  he  going  to  do?  Why  didn't  Thord 


62  The   Locked   Chest 

give  me  a  hint?  He'll  search  the  sheep- 
fold.  Of  course  he'll  search  the  sheep-fold. 
He'll  be  going  to  the  fold  in  another  minute. 
Why  did  I  leave  him  in  the  sheep-fold? 
Why  did  I  let  him  stay  at  all?  What  can  I 
do?  What  can  I  do?  He'll  be  down  in  a 
minute.  What's  this  bag  of  money?  What's 
this  bag  of  money?  Thord's  sold  him.  It's 
blood  money,  I  know  it.  What  can  I  do? 
O,  God.  What  can  I  do? 

THORD. 
[Above.]    Vigdis. 

VlGDIS. 

Yes,  Thord. 

THORD. 

All    right.      Nothing.      I    only   wanted    to 
know  if  you  were  there. 

VIGDIS. 

What  can  I  do?     I  know.     I  know.     It's 
a  bare  chance.    It's  a  bare  chance. 

[She  runs  softly  and  swiftly  from  the  room.] 

[In   two  seconds  she   returns  with  THOROLF.] 

[Noise  above,  and  shouts.] 


The   Locked   Chest          63 

VlGDIS. 

Quiet.    Quiet.    Not  a  whisper. 

THOROLF. 
What  shall  I  do? 

VlGDIS. 

Not  a  whisper. 

THORD. 
[Above.]    Vigdis.    Are  you  there  still? 

VlGDIS. 

I'm  still  here,  Thord.  What's  the  matter 
with  you?  Into  the  chest,  Thorolf.  Get 
into  the  chest.  [She  opens  chest.} 

THOROLF. 
[Kissing  her.]    Good-bye,  in  case,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 

O,  you  silly  boy.  Get  in.  I  must  lock 
you  in.  Don't  sneeze,  for  God's  sake.  Press 
your  upper  lip  if  you  want  to  sneeze.  It's 
a  bare  chance,  Thorolf.  [She  locks  the  chest 
on  him  and  takes  key.  Then  she  hurriedly 


64  The   Locked   Chest 

and  softly  puts  bread  and  beer  upon  the  table 
as  for  supper.} 

[Re-enter  INGIALD,  THORD,  and  SOLDIERS.] 

VlGDIS. 

Well,  my  lord.  Did  you  find  my  cousin 
Thorolf  by  any  chance? 

INGIALD. 
I've  not  finished  looking  yet. 

VIGDIS. 

Haven't  you?  You  might  look  on  the 
dresser  there.  I  would  if  I  were  you.  Or 
in  the  oven.  Yes,  look  in  the  oven,  Ingiald. 
Show  him  the  oven,  Thord. 

INGIALD. 

[To  some  of  his  men.}  Step  into  the  kitchen, 
and  look  in  the  oven.  You.  Come  with 
me  the  rest  of  you.  We  must  look  through 
the  farmyard. 

VIGDIS. 
Don't  disturb  your  elder  brother,  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 

What  elder  brother? 


The   Locked   Chest          65 

VlGDIS. 

The  donkey. 

INGIALD. 

Ah,  you're  funny,  Vigdis.    Well,  he  laughs 
best  who  laughs  last,  /  say. 

[Exit  with  MEN.] 

VIGDIS. 
Thord.  Thord  Goddi. 

THORD. 
Yes,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 
What's  this  bag  of  money,  here  ? 

THORD. 
Bag  of  money? 

VIGDIS. 
This  bag  of  money  here.  What  is  it? 

THORD. 
It's  what  I  brought  from  market. 

VIGDIS. 
It's  nothing  of  the  sort. 


66          The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 
Oh  no.    Nor  it  is. 

VIGDIS. 
Well? 

THORD. 

Well?      I    suppose    Ingiald    left    it    there 
when  he  came  in. 

VIGDIS. 

Did   you   see   Ingiald   leave   it   there?     O, 
what  am  I  thinking  of?    [Aside.] 

THORD. 

Now    for    Heaven's    sake    stop    nagging. 
Hark! 

VIGDIS. 
What  is  it? 

THORD. 

I  thought  I  heard  a  noise  in  the  yard.     A 
cry. 

VIGDIS. 
My  God.    A  cry.    [They  go  to  the  door.] 

THORD. 
I  hope  they  won't  find  him. 


The   Locked   Chest          67 

VlGDIS. 

Thank  God  I  did  what  I  could  for  him. 
O,  may  Heaven  blind  them. 

THORD. 

I'm  afraid  they're  sure  to  find  him.    What 
was  that? 

VIGDIS. 

My    God.      They're    brave,    aren't    they, 
thirteen  to  one? 

THORD. 
Didn't  you  hear  a  sort  of  groan  then? 

VIGDIS. 
Poor  Thorolf.    Poor  Thorolf. 

THORD. 
We  did  our  best,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 

Yes.     May  God  always  help  you,  Thord, 
as  well  as  you  helped  Thorolf! 

THORD. 

Yes,  I  shall  always  be  glad  I  did  my  best 
for  him. 


68          The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

Yes,  Thord.  I  suppose  you  will  be.  I 
hope  you  will  be. 

THORD. 
Poor  fellow. 

VIGDIS. 
Poor  Thorolf . 

THORD. 

Don't  take  on,  Vigdis.  We  must  all  die. 
Ah.  Ah.  Come  away  from  the  door.  Come. 
[Cries  without.] 

VIGDIS. 

[Covering  her  eyes.]  O,  my  dear,  my  dear. 
O  Thorolf,  little  brown-haired  Thorolf. 

THORD. 
There.    There.    It's  all  over  now. 

VIGDIS. 
O,  my  Thorolf,  my  cousin  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

There.  There.  Now  don't  take  on.  Don't 
take  on;  you  get  on  my  nerves  when  you 
cry  like  that. 


The   Locked   Chest          69 

VlGDIS. 

O,  you  had  brown  hair,  Thorolf.  Bonny 
hair  you  had.  O,  my  boy,  my  poor  cousin. 
[Cries  without.] 

THORD. 

[Aside.]  They've  got  him.  They've  got 
him.  [He  rubs  his  hands.]  We  all  owe  Heaven 
a  death.  Poor  Thorolf.  Poor  fellow.  And 
him  so  young. 

VIGDIS. 

It  was  a  sight  for  sore  eyes  on  a  sunny 
morning  to  see  him  going  over  the  hills. 
O,  Thorolf,  you  were  the  joy  of  a  woman's 
eyes.  You  were  as  stately  as  a  stag.  You 
were  as  comely  as  a  king's  darling.  O,  my 
boy,  my  poor  cousin,  my  own  dear,  my 
heart's  darling,  Thorolf! 

THORD. 

And  him  so  young.  And  such  a  promising 
young  fellow.  To  be  cut  short.  Life  is 
but  a  span.  And  him  so  young.  Idle,  vicious, 
drunken  blackguard,  it's  a  good  job  you  are 
cut  short.  [More  noise  without] 


jo          The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

He  had  soft  brown  hair  with  threads  of 
gold  in  it  like  the  bright  bird's  feathers. 
Now  it's  dabbled  with  blood,  dabbled  with 
blood,  dabbled  with  blood. 

THORD. 
Dabbled  with  blood.    O!    O  me! 

VlGDIS. 

O  young  man,  O  treasure  of  the  west,  O 
white,  comely,  handsome  Thorolf!  Yours 
will  be  a  cold  bride  bed  under  the  winter 
grass. 

THORD. 

O  do  for  Heaven's  sake  be  quiet. 

VlGDIS. 

A  cold  bed,  a  lonely  bed,  a  white  bed. 

THORD. 

You'll  waste  none  of  our  sheets,  laying  of 
him  out.  Let  me  tell  you  that. 

VlGDIS. 

Three  white  lonely  candles  in  a  draught, 


The   Locked   Chest          71 

three  flames  guttering,  but  you  will  lie  still 
beneath  them,  Thorolf. 

THORD. 

Vigdis.  Do  you  want  to  drive  me  mad? 
Have  done  now. 

VIGDIS. 

O  bonny  Thorolf.  Swimming  and  rowing 
and  going  among  young  men  you  were  like 
a  king.  None  could  sail  a  boat  like  you. 
No  queen  ever  loosed  her  hair  about  a  lovelier 
lover  than  you.  You  were  courteous,  you 
were  kind,  you  had  strength  and  beauty, 
you  were  brave;  now  you  will  lie  in  the 
ground,  and  the  sheep  will  crop  the  grass 
there. 

THORD. 

Here.  Vigdis.  A  little  of  that  goes  a 
long  way.  Thorolf's  dead.  Here's  Ingiald 
coming  back.  Hold  your  noise  now,  for 
Heaven's  sake. 

[Re-enter  INGIALD  with  MEN.] 

INGIALD. 

I've  a  bone  to  pick  with  you,  Thord. 


72  The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

Bring  me  my  dead.  Give  me  my  dead, 
you  butchers,  you  bloody  men. 

INGIALD. 
D'ye  hear? 

VlGDIS. 

Thirteen  to  one.  Thirteen  to  one.  You 
butchers.  You  bloody  men.  Bring  me  my 
dead.  Bring  me  my  dead  darling.  You 
cowards.  You  cowards. 

INGIALD. 

What's  wrong  with  you,  Vigdis  ? 

VlGDIS. 

Let  me  look  upon  the  boy's  dead  face. 
You  butchers.  O  fair,  white  face.  O  white 
face  with  the  red  blood  upon  it.  O  my  boy, 
my  dear  boy,  Thorolf. 

INGIALD. 

He'll  be  a  white  face  when  I  get  him  and 
that's  a  fact,  Vigdis.  I'll  promise  you  that 
much.  Thord,  I'll  wring  your  ears  off. 


The   Locked   Chest          73 

VlGDIS. 

Where  is  my  dead  lad?  You  dogs.  You 
butchers.  Take  me  to  his  corpse. 

INGIALD. 

Your  dead  lad?    There's  no  dead  lad. 

VIGDIS. 
Not  dead.    O,  Heaven!    [Pretends  to  swoon.] 

THORD. 

What? 

INGIALD. 

I'll  tell  you  what,  you  creeping  rot.  You 
cur.  You  Judas.  What  have  you  done 
with  him? 

THORD. 
Done  with  him  ? 

INGIALD. 

With  Thorolf.  Eh.  Where  is  he?  Eh? 
What  have  you  done  with  him? 

THORD. 
I've  done  nothing,  Ingiald.    Nothing. 


74          The   Locked   Chest 

INGIALD. 

Don't  tell  me  you've  done  nothing. 

THORD. 
I  didn't  do  anything  with  him. 

INGIALD. 

You  lying  knave.  D'ye  dare  to  sit  there 
and  say  you  haven't  got  him  off? 

THORD. 
I  haven't  got  him  off. 

INGIALD. 
You  lie. 

THORD. 
How  could  I  have  got  him  off? 

INGIALD. 

How?  How  do  I  know  how?  But  I'll 
know  how.  I'll  flay  you  alive.  I'll  skin 
you  and  salt  you.  I'll— I'll— I'll- 

THORD. 

O  don't.  Ingiald,  I  swear — I  swear  I 
thought  you'd  get  him. 


The    Locked   Chest          75 

INGIALD. 
I  tell  you,  you've  got  him  off. 


THORD. 
I  haven't,  Ingiald. 

INGIALD. 

[To  his  men.]  Look  at  him.  Look  at 
this  liar,  here.  I  come  here  to  this  liar  and 
tell  him  I  want  Thorolf.  And  he  cringes 
and  whines  and  licks  my  boots.  So  I  just 
speak  to  him  kindly,  like  a  father.  I'm 
always  kindly  and  like  a  father.  I'm  too 
kind.  And  he  cringes  and  whines,  and  begs 
me  not  to  hit  him.  Only  spare  my  precious 
hide,  he  says,  and  I'll  tell  you  where  Thorolf 
is. 

THE  MEN. 

Hear  that  now.    He  betrayed  him,  etc. 

Then  he  wants  a  little  money,  for  saying 
where  Thorolf  is.  The  money  on  the  table 
there.  Three  marks  of  silver,  no  less.  He'd 
sell  his  own  mother  for  a  little  money. 
Wouldn't  you,  eh? 


The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 
I  wouldn't. 

INGIALD. 

You  would,  you  know  it.  Three  marks 
of  silver  you  begged.  And  then  you  told 
me  to  look  in  the  sheep-fold. 

THE  MEN. 

Treacherous  swine.  His  own  cousin.  His 
own  cousin. 

INGIALD. 

And  then  he  sneaks  his  man  off  while 
we're  rummaging  in  the  wrong  place.  And 
now  he  expects  me  to  be  out  three  marks 
of  silver. 

THE  MEN. 

Tie  him  to  the  bull's  tail,  master;  and 
let's  hunt  him. 

INGIALD. 

So  you'd  sell  your  cousin,  would  you,  and 
then  try  to  go  back  on  your  bargain?  [Going 
to  him.]  Where  have  you  taken  Thorolf  to? 
Eh? 


The   Locked   Chest          77 

THORD. 

He  was  in  the  sheep-fold  where  I  told 
you,  Ingiald.  He  was.  Indeed  he  was. 

INGIALD. 

O.  Was  he?  And  where  is  he  now?  Gone 
to  Olaf's,  I  suppose. 

THORD. 
He  may  have  gone  to  Olaf's. 

THE  MEN. 

Olaf's  is  a  likely  place.  We'd  better  go 
on  there  at  once. 

INGIALD. 

Lord  help  you,  Thord,  if  we  don't  get 
him.  Understand?  I  mean  it.  Come  on 
there. 

A  MAN. 
You  never  looked  in  that  chest  yet,  captain. 

INGIALD. 

O  yes,  that  chest.  [He  tries  lid.]  Where's 
the  key,  Thord? 


78  The   Locked   Chest 

THORD. 

Ask  Vigdis. 

INGIALD. 

Where's  the  key  of  this  chest,  Vigdis  ? 

VIGDIS. 

Key  of  the  chest,  indeed.  Who  are  you 
to  ask  for  my  keys?  I'm  not  going  to  have 
you  spying  in  my  chests.  You  and  your 
gang  have  done  harm  enough  here.  You'll 
get  no  key.  Let  that  be  enough. 

INGIALD. 
Come  now.    The  key. 

VIGDIS. 
I  tell  you,  you  shall  not  have  the  key. 

THE  MEN. 
Break  it  open,  captain. 

A  MAN. 

O  let  the  chest  alone.  Thorolf'll  be  safe 
at  Olaf's  if  we  don't  hurry. 

INGIALD. 
Give  me  the  key. 


The   Locked   Chest          79 

TlIORD. 

Give  up  the  key  at  once. 

VIGDIS. 

I  tell  you,  you  shall  not  have  the  key. 
You've  thrown  the  house  overboard  as  it  is. 
Get  out  now.  Go. 

INGIALD. 
Give  me  that  key  at  once,  Vigdis. 

VIGDIS. 

[Flinging  key  on  floor.]  Take  it  then,  and 
bad  luck  go  with  it.  Here  it  is.  Now  open. 

INGIALD. 

[Giving  it  back.]  Thank  you.  That's  all 
I  wanted.  Now,  Thord.  Give  back  that 
bag  of  money. 

THORD. 
O,  Ingiald,  you  gave  it  to  me. 

INGIALD. 
Now  you  will  give  it  back. 

THORD. 
O,  Ingiald. 


8o          The   Locked   Chest 

VlGDIS. 

Give  it,  Thord.  Give  it,  you  Judas,  you. 
D'ye  think  I'll  have  blood  money  in  the 
house.  Give  it  up  at  once. 

[The  Men  go  out  and  linger  at  the  door.} 

INGIALD. 
Come  on  now. 

VIGDIS. 

[Taking  money  bag.}  I've  only  one  thing 
to  say  to  you,  Ingiald.  I  say,  take  your 
money  and  get  out  of  my  house,  now.  [She 
makes  him  back  to  the  door.}  Take  your  dirty 
blood  money.  [She  smites  him  over  the  face 
with  the  money  bag  and  drives  him  out.  She 
watches  them  go}  Go  on  to  Olaf's  with  you, 
and  try  some  other  Judas.  That's  all  I've 
to  say  to  you,  my  lord.  [She  turns  and  unlocks 
chest.  Then,  instead  of  opening,  she  turns  to 
look  at  Thord.  Thord  goes  to  door  and  looks 
out,  comes  back  and  sits  on  chest.  Vigdis  backs 
away  from  him} 

THORD. 
Well.    They've  gone.    [A  pause}    They've 


The   Locked   Chest          8  i 

gone.     [No  answer.]     Can't  you  answer  when 
I  speak  to  you? 

VIGDIS. 

Yes.  I  can  answer.  Listen  to  me,  Thord 
Goddi.  You  and  I  will  part  from  now.  You 
took  money  to  betray  Thorolf,  your  guest 
and  my  cousin.  I  always  knew  you  for  a 
mean  man.  Now  I  know  you  are  base,  and 
a  dastard,  and  a  dog.  God  forgive  me,  I 
once  loved  you.  Pah.  I  let  you  kiss  me. 
I  held  you  in  my  arms.  There.  There. 
There.  Take  it.  [She  flings  her  wedding 
ring  at  him.}  Now  we'll  part,  my  sir.  I  thank 
God  I  never  bore  you  a  child. 

THORD. 

[Laughing  nervously.}  I've  got  a  head- 
ache. I  can't — Ow — [The  chest  lid  rises. 
Thord  leaps  from  it.  Thorolf  appears.} 
Thorolf! 

THOROLF. 
Thorolf! 

THORD. 
Thorolf,  I  didn't  mean — I  swear  I  didn't. 


82  The   Locked   Chest 

I    didn't   mean.      It   was   only   a   joke.      I'll 
explain. 

THOROLF. 
Thord.    Pah.    You're  not  worth  it. 

THORD. 

O  Thorolf.  You  shall  have— I'll  give 
you  my  money.  All  of  it 

THOROLF. 
Pah.    Vigdis,  my  dear,  where  are  they? 

VIGDIS. 

They've  gone,  Thorolf.  We  can  slip  away 
to  Broadfirth  now.  It's  quite  safe.  Come. 
Come.  We'll  go  together,  my  friend.  (They 
turn  to  go.] 

THORD. 
I'll  change  my  religion. 

CURTAIN. 

Written  in  1906. 


THE  SWEEPS  OF  NINETY-EIGHT 


THE  SWEEPS  OF  NINETY-EIGHT 

SCENE:  An  inn  at  Dunleary.  A  parlour. 
TIGER  ROCHE,  an  old,  well-preserved  man, 
with  his  left  arm  in  a  sling. 

ROCHE. 

I  have  been  in  seven  lost  causes.  This  is 
the  seventh;  and  it  comes  to  an  end  like 
the  others.  There  were  good  fellows  with 
me.  They  poured  out  their  lives  like  water. 
Good  fellows  they  were.  They  are  all  gone 
now.  Shears,  and  all  of  them.  My  God! 
but  they  were  brave.  And  to  think  of  those 
swine  at  the  Castle  ruling  men  like  they 
were!  [He  rings  the  bell.} 

[Enter  HOSTESS.] 
Well,  what  did  the  ship-captain  say? 

HOSTESS. 

There'll  be  a  boat  below  the  door  here  in 
half  an  hour  from  now. 

ROCHE. 

And  he'll  engage  to  land  me  in  France? 
85 


86    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

HOSTESS. 
In  France  itself. 

ROCHE. 
You  said  half  an  hour? 

HOSTESS. 
Yes,  sir. 

ROCHE. 

So    I've    half    an    hour    more    in    Ireland. 
Half  an  hour  more  in  Ireland,  and  then- 
Adieu  for  ever  more, 

My  love, 
Adieu  for  ever  more. 

Well,  there's  no  sense  in  sorrow;  I   may  as 
well  have  some  wine. 

HOSTESS. 

What  wine  would  you   like,   sir?     Claret? 
Burgundy? 

ROCHE. 
Have  you  any  Miss  Taylor? 

HOSTESS. 

Why,   sir,   that's   a   common   drink.     Only 
sailors  drink  Miss  Taylor. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    87 

ROCHE. 

I  drank  a  cup  of  Miss  Taylor  the  day  I 
landed  at  Killala.  I  would  drink  it  again 
to  the  memory  of  the  friends  who  pledged 
me  in  it.  [Soliloquizing.]  It  ought  not  to 
have  failed.  But  the  honest  purpose  does 
fail,  for  it  is  fighting  the  knavery  of  the 
world.  It's  a  harsh  alternative,  to  fail  or  be 
British.  Fail,  aye,  and  I'm  proud  to  fail. 

Better  be  trampled  out  by  asses'  hooves 
Than  be  the  thing  the  asses'  mind  approves. 

[HOSTESS  goes  out  and  returns  with  bottle  and 
glass.] 

i 

HOSTESS. 
Here  it  is,  sir. 

ROCHE. 
I  thank  you. 

[HOSTESS  goes  out.] 

[Pouring  out  a  glass  of  wine  and  holding  it  up.] 
I  drink  to  you,  my  comrades.  You  fought 
a  good  fight,  my  comrades.  You  were  spent 


88    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

like  water.     Your  names  shall  be  written  in 
fire. 

[Re-enter  HOSTESS.] 

HOSTESS. 

There's  some  gentlemen  coming,  sir.  Per- 
haps you'd  like  to  step  aside,  sir.  The  cellar's 
dark,  and  there's  a  good  place  in  the  hen- 
house. 

ROCHE. 
I'll  stay  where  I  am,  thank  you. 

HOSTESS. 

It  may  be  dangerous  for  you  to  stay,  sir. 
One  of  them's  that  Major  Sirr. 

ROCHE. 
I  shall  be  glad  to  meet  him. 

HOSTESS. 

[Looking  out.]  It  may  be  very  dangerous, 
sir.  One  of  them's  that  Major  Sandys. 

ROCHE. 
O!    Who's  the  third? 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    89 

HOSTESS. 

Sir,  would  you  not  be  advised,  since  it 
might  be  your  death?  He's  the  drunken 
fat  man  who  flogged  poor  Mr.  Wright.  I 
must  go  out,  sir. 

[Exit.] 

ROCHE. 

Old  Fitzpatrick!  I  shall  have  pleasant 
company  for  my  last  half-hour  in  Ireland. 
[He  sits  down.] 

[Enter    MAJOR    SIRR,    MAJOR    SANDYS,    and 
THOMAS  JUDKIN  FITZPATRICK,  J.  P.] 

FITZ. 

And  so,  sir,  when  he  said  that,  sir,  there 
was  no  use  bothering  a  jury. 

SIRR. 

Aha.  Very  good,  very  good.  You  are  a 
wag,  sir. 

FITZ. 
Yes,  sir,  the  rebellious  dog. 

SAND. 
All  the  same,  the  rebellion's  not  stamped 


90    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

out.     I   shall  be  glad  when   that   new   regi- 
ment comes  in. 

SIRR. 
What  new  regiment? 

SAND. 

O,  a  Kentish  regiment.  Fencibles  and 
that.  They'll  be  marching  through  here, 
by  the  way.  Before  we  go,  I  expect. 

SIRR. 

Well,  the  more  the  merrier.  But  all  the 
same,  I  think  we've  scotched  the  rebellion. 
Let's  sit  down  and  be  merry. 

SAND. 

All  the  same,  I'm  glad  the  new  regiment's 
coming.  And  I'm  glad  it'll  pass  this  tavern. 
We  are  in  the  enemy's  country,  so  far  from 
Dublin. 

SIRR. 

Come,  let's  be  merry.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick, 
I  hear  you  hanged  the  last  of  these  rebels 
yesterday  morning. 

FlTZ. 

Yes,  sir;  the  rebellious  dog.     Under  God's 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    9 1 

providence  I  hanged  that  rebel,  sir.  The 
rebellious  dog,  sir,  he  was  little  better  than 
a  common  atheist.  If  we  could  catch  that 
arch-traitor,  Tiger  Roche,  sir;  why  honest 
men,  sir,  could  sleep  in  peace  again. 

SAND. 

Why,  I  thought  Tiger  Roche  had  died 
twenty  years  ago. 

FITZ. 

That's  an  instance,  sir,  of  the  lengths  these 
rebels  go  to.  It's  their  subtlety,  sir;  their 
canting,  lying,  hypocritical  subtlety.  He 
pretended  he  was  dead,  sir.  He  gave  out  a 
report  that  he  was  dead,  sir.  And  then,  sir, 
if  you  please,  he  lands  at  Killala  with  a  troop 
of  pikemen.  Dead?  A  crocodile's  tears, 
sir.  Twenty  years  of  scheming  and  plotting; 
and  pretending  all  the  time  he  was  in  his 
grave.  [Staring  hard  at  ROCHE.]  Who's  the 
old  put  with  his  arm  in  a  bag? 

SIRR. 

O,  some  old  put  or  other.  Let's  be  merry. 
[He  rings  the  bell.} 

[Enter  HOSTESS.] 


92    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

SlRR. 

Mine's  brandy.  What's  yours?  What's 
yours,  Sandys? 

FlTZ. 

A  bottle  of  brandy,  woman.  Bring  a  bottle 
of  brandy. 

[HOSTESS    brings    bottle    and    glasses.       Then 
lingers.] 

Well,    ma'am.      And    why    don't    you    go, 
ma'am? 

HOSTESS. 
The  brandy  is  half  a  guinea,  sir. 

FITZ. 

You  saucy  jade.  Hark  ye,  mistress.  I'd 
have  you  know,  ma'am,  that  I'm  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  ma'am.  I  shouldn't  wonder 
if  you're  another  of  these  pernicious  atheis- 
tical Friends  of  Ireland,  as  they  call  them. 
Pernicious,  lying,  murderous  dogs. — Well! 
What  are  you  waiting  for? 

HOSTESS. 

I'm  waiting  for  my  money,  sir.  I  don't 
like  to  be  put  upon. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    93 

FlTZ. 

What?  Rebel,  would  you,  against  the 
King's  Peace?  I  am  the  King's  Peace, 
madam.  Not  another  word,  or  I'll  commit 
you. 

[Exit  HOSTESS.] 

SlRR. 

You  are  a  wag,  sir.    Your  are  merry. 

SAND. 

Excellent.    Excellent. 

[They  draw  to  the  table,  unbuckle  their  belts, 
put  down  their  swords  and  papers,  and  prepare 
to  enjoy  themselves^ 

[To  FITZ.]  They  say  you  made  a  great 
haul  of  rebels  in  Tipperary,  about  six  weeks 
back. 

FITZ. 

Under  God's  providence,  I  did,  sir.  I 
caught  seven,  sir.  I  had  them  all  flogged, 
sir,  and  then  hanged  the  eldest.  Strong 
measures,  sir;  but  without  strong  measures 
we  shouldn't  sleep  in  peace,  sir.  No,  sir. 
If  we  didn't  exert  the  strong  arm,  sir — and 
you  will  agree  with  me  that  might  is  right — 


94    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

there'd  be  a  subversion  of  all  Liberty.  But 
I  thank  God,  sir,  that  we  have  a  Constitu- 
tion. Let  me  hear  no  cant  about  Equality 
and  Liberty,  and  the  Rights  of  Man,  sir. 
Show  me  a  man  who  talks  of  Truth,  and 
I  will  show  you  a  rebel. 

SIRR. 
Hear,  hear. 

SAND. 

Well,  about  the  rebels.  How  did  you 
catch  them? 

FITZ. 

Catch  them?  I  saw  them  in  the  streets, 
sir.  The  effrontery  of  these  rebels  knows 
no  bounds,  sir. 

SAND. 
What,  with  arms  in  their  hands  ? 

FITZ. 

Arms  in  their  hands?  No,  sir.  In  Tip- 
perary,  sir — under  God's  providence — they 
know  better. 

SAND. 

Well — but  how  did  you  know  them? 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    95 

FITZ. 

Know  them,  sir?  I  knew  them  by  their 
waistcoats,  their  canting,  atheistical,  seditious 
red  French  waistcoats.  There  was  "Down 
with  Church  and  State"  in  every  button. 
Sir,  the  evidence  was  plain,  sir.  Those  waist- 
coats would  have  condemned  a  Christian 
martyr,  sir. 

ROCHE. 
[Aside.]    It  seems  they  did. 

FITZ. 
What's  the  old  put  there  muttering? 

SAND. 

Ah,  don't  pay  any  heed  to  him.  Tell  us 
of  the  man  who  didn't  take  off  his  hat  to  you. 

SIRR. 

Yes,  tell  us  of  that.  You  are  a  wag,  Mr. 
Fitzpatrick.  I'm  afraid  you're  a  merry  wag, 
sir. 

FITZ. 
Sir,  your  very  good  health. 


96    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 


SlRR. 

O,  sir,  your  servant,  I'm  sure. 
[They  drink.} 

SAND. 
Well,  about  the  man 


FlTZ. 

O,  yes.  The  rebellious  hound.  He  didn't 
take  off  his  hat  to  me,  sir.  Well,  sir.  He 
that  affronts  me,  sir,  affronts  King  George, 
sir.  For  I,  sir,  under  God's  providence,  am 
King  George's  Justice  of  the  Peace,  sir;  so, 
sir,  when  a  man  does  not  salute  me,  he  does 
not  salute  King  George,  sir.  He  is  a  rebel, 
sir.  A  sans-culotte,  sir.  A  murdering  pike 
in  the  hand  of  a  sans-culotte,  sir.  He  is  a 
rebel  on  the  face  of  it.  And  so,  sir,  to  make 
a  short  tale,  I  gave  him  fifty  lashes.  And 
d'ye  know,  sir,  he  had  the  brazen-faced 
effrontry  to  contradict  me  when  I  called 
him  a  rebel  to  his  teeth.  Beat  that  if  you 
can,  sir.  What  d'ye  think  of  that,  sir? 
Beat  it  if  you  can  for  cold-blooded,  brazen- 
faced, rebellious  audacity.  These  people  are 
possessed  of  the  devil,  sir. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    97 

SAND. 

Look  at  my  case.  Only  last  week.  I  had 
a  traitor.  He  was  taken  in  the  fact,  as  it 
were.  That  man  Hevey.  Why,  he  was  a 
known  traitor.  There  was  no  need  to  try 
him.  The  thing  was  evident.  I  condemned 
him  to  be  hanged.  Well,  he  had  a  mare,  a 
grey  mare,  a  famous  creature.  I  told  him 
to  send  her  round  to  me.  I  told  him  straight 
out  that  a  mare  like  her  should  never  again 
load  her  loyal  loins  with  the  vile  burden  of 
a  convicted  traitor.  And  he'd  the  heaven- 
sent impudence  to  complain  to  General  Craig. 

FITZ. 

These  people  are  possessed  of  the  devil, 
sir.  But  come,  a  bumper.  A  bumper. 

SIRR. 

[Aside.]  I  think  that  old  put's  a  rebel. 
He  blushed  like  fire,  Major,  when  you  told 
your  story. 

[They  look  at  ROCHE,  who  is  reading  a  little 
book.} 


98    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

FITZ. 

What's  he  reading?  These  reading  people, 
they're  generally  deep  ones. 

SIRR. 
[Peeping.]    It  seems  to  be  poetry. 

FITZ. 

[Aside.]  Poetry?  He  is  a  rebel  without 
doubt.  [Aloud.]  I  would  make  it  a  capital 
offence  to  read  poetry.  Yes,  sir.  When  a 
man  deliberately  starts  to  poison  his  mind 
with  incendiary  cant  about  Truth  and  Beauty, 
he  is  as  good  as  damned,  sir.  I  would  hang 
any  man  who  read  poetry.  A  man  who  has 
a  book  of  poems  in  one  hand  has  always  a 
rebel's  pike  in  the  other.  You  mark  my 
words,  sir.  Ahem!  You,  sir!  You  with 
your  arm  in  the  sling. 

ROCHE. 
You  were  pleased  to  speak  to  me? 

FITZ. 

Yes,  sir,  I  was  pleased,  as  you  call  it,  to 
speak  to  you.  Don't  trifle  with  me,  sir. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    99 

For  I  am,  under  God's  providence,  a  Justice 
of  the  King's  Peace,  King  George's  deputy, 
under  God's  providence,  if  you  know  what 
that  means. 

ROCHE. 

Sir,  I  know  what  that  means.  Yes,  sir, 
I  know  what  that  means.  Its  meaning  is 
written  red  across  this  island. 

FlTZ. 

So,  sir.  I  am  glad  to  find  you  so  well 
affected.  Are  you  an  honest  man,  sir? 

ROCHE. 

Come,  Mr.  Fitzpatrick.  A  man  is  known 
by  the  company  he  keeps. 

SIRR. 
You  are  a  wag,  sir. 

FITZ. 
So,  sir,  I  see  you  know  me? 

ROCHE. 

Not  know  Mr.  Fitzpatrick! 


ioo   The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

FITZ. 

Why  then,  sir,  you  will  let  me  see  what 
book  you  are  reading. 

ROCHE. 
With  pleasure,  sir.    The  Odes  of  Horace. 

SAND. 

I  know  that  Odes  O'Horace  to  be  a  pamph- 
leteering rebel.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  we  must 
secure  this  man. 

SIRR. 

[Looking  at  book.]  There's  mighty  few 
rebels  understands  Hebrew,  let  me  tell  you 
that,  Sandys. 

ROCHE. 

[To  Sirr.]  I  thought  I  couldn't  be  mis- 
taken. Can  it  be — tell  me — Am  I  not  in 
the  presence  of  Major  Sirr,  the  saviour  of 
this  benighted  country,  the  apprehender  of 
that  arch-offender,  that  rebel  chief,  Sir  Peter 
Keogh?  O  happy  day!  A  glorious  privilege! 

FITZ. 
Yes,    sir,    that    is    Major    Sirr,    sir.      Our 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    101 

Saviour  under  God's  providence,  Major  Sirr, 
sir.  Come,  sit  down  and  be  merry,  Mr. — 
Mr. — what's  your  name? 


SAND. 

All  very  well,  Fitzpatrick.  But  you  and 
I  are  of  the  Commission.  Hark!  There's 
the  fifes.  The  regiment's  coming.  We'd 
better  send  him  in  with  the  regiment  and 
have  him  properly  examined. 

SIRR. 
Don't  be  an  ass,  Sandys. 

FITZ. 

Major  Sandys,  sir.  When  you  are  drunk, 
sir,  you  are  a  credit  to  your  King  and  your 
religion,  sir.  But  Major  Sandys,  sir,  when 
you  are  sober,  sir,  you  are  a  dry  toast,  sir. 
You  stick  in  an  honest  man's  throat,  sir. 
Damme,  sir,  sit  down  and  drink  like  a  Chris- 
tian. 

SAND. 

Well.  The  regiment's  coming.  The  band 
are  out  of  tune.  These  militia  are  the  deuce. 


102    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

Well,  Mr.  Rebel,  or  Mr.  Honest  Man,  who- 
ever you  are,  the  bottle  lies  with  you. 


FITZ. 
Give  us  a  toast,  Mr.  Honest  Man. 

ROCHE. 

Gentlemen,  pass  up  your  glasses.  I  will 
give  you  a  toast.  Hand  up  your  glasses.  I 
will  give  you  a  toast. 

SIRR. 
What  is  it  you're  drinking? 

ROCHE. 
Tokay,  Major,  a  kind  of  Imperial  Tokay. 

FITZ. 

A  man  who  drinks  Tokay,  sir,  is  a  man 
of  principle.  Did  the  rebels  drink  Tokay? 
No,  sir,  they  drank  vile  antheistical  whisky. 

ROCHE. 

Come,  don't  abuse  whisky.  I've  known 
whisky  get  a  grocer  knighted. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    103 

FlTZ. 

Sir,  a  King,  sir,  is  above  the  law,  sir. 
Come,  give  us  your  toast. 

SAND. 
Yes,  give  us  your  toast. 

SIRR. 
Fill  fair,  now,  honest  man. 

[RocHE    lines   up   the   three   glasses   and  fills 
them  full.] 

FlTZ. 

Your  toast,  now. 

ROCHE. 

Gentlemen,  I  give  you  a  toast — "The 
Trinity  of  Judas." — There,  sir,  is  yours; 
there's  yours,  Major  Sandys;  there's  yours, 
Major  Sirr. 

[He  flings  the  glasses  one  by  one  into  the  faces 
of  the  trio.} 

Gentlemen,    I    am    Tiger    Roche.      I    hope 
you  liked  your  wine. 


IO4   The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

SlRR. 

Traitor!  Help  me,  you  two.  There  is 
a  thousand  pounds  reward. 

FITZ. 

My  religion  forbids  re — retaliation. 

SAND. 

[To  ROCHE.]  Well,  you  bully.  The  regi- 
ment's coming.  Then  we'll  see  about  Mr. 
Tiger  Roche,  with  his  toasts  and  his  Hebrew. 

[SiRR  tries  to  reach  his  sword.] 

ROCHE. 

[To  SIRR.]  I  should  be  sorry  to  have 
your  blood  upon  my  sword,  Major  Sirr. 

[SiRR  relapses.] 

[To  SANDYS.]  Now,  Mr.  Sandys,  about  your 
regiment.  That  is  not  your  regiment.  Your 
regiment  is  a  red  ruin  at  Rathnew.  Those 
fifes  are  the  fifes  of  the  Friends  of  Ireland. 
In  five  minutes'  time  I  hope  to  be  leading 
them  to  Dublin. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    105 

ALL. 
What!    O,  God,  we  are  lost! 

ROCHE. 
Sit  down,  you  carrion. 

SIRR. 
And  I've  a  wife  and  two  sons. 

ROCHE. 
What!    Human  feeling  in  a  Sirr! 

FITZ. 

O,  Mr.  Roche,  sir;  Captain  Roche,  sir. 
Have  pity;  I  am  not  fit  to  die. 

ROCHE. 
Truth  from  a  Fitzpatrick! 

SAND. 

O,  Captain  Roche.  You  shall  have  the 
grey  mare.  Hevey's  famous  mare,  that  won 
the  trotting  match. 

ROCHE. 
Generosity  in  a  Mr.  Major  Sandys. 


io6    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

ALL. 

O,  Mr.  Roche,  we'll  reform.  O,  hide  us, 
Mr.  Roche.  Not  the  mob,  Mr.  Roche. 
We  shall  be  torn  limb  from  limb. 

ROCHE. 
Well,  you'd  better  get  up  that  chimney. 

FITZ. 
My  belly'll  never  go  there. 

ROCHE. 
Well,  it  had  better  go  there. 

SAND. 

It  won't  hold  us  all.  You  must  stand  out, 
Fitzpatrick.  Stand  by,  Sirr.  I  go  first.  [He 
gets  up  the  chimney.} 

SIRR. 

O  God,  will  I  be  in  time?  [He  gets  up 
the  chimney] 

[The  fifes  sound  clearly.] 

FITZ. 
My  belly  will  bring  my  grey  hairs  in  sor- 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    107 

row  to  the  grave.  O  you  inhuman  Sandys. 
Help  me  up.  O  help  me  up.  I'll  squeeze 
in  somehow.  O,  Mr.  Roche,  help  me  up. 
Do  now,  kind  Mr.  Roche.  O,  I  shall  choke. 
[He  gets  up  the  chimney.}  [An  agonized  voice 
from  the  chimney:]  Do  our  legs  show? 
[The  band  sounds  without.  ROCHE  gathers 
up  their  papers  in  a  pile.  Then  goes  to  the 
window.] 

ROCHE. 
Ho,  there.    Captain! 

VOICE  WITHOUT. 
What  d'ye  want. 

ROCHE. 

Bring  in  a  file  of  men.     There  are  some 
rebels  secreted  here. 

[The    troops    ground    arms    and    halt.      Enter 
CAPTAIN  and  file.] 

CAPTAIN. 

Well,  sir,  where  are  the  rebels? 

ROCHE. 
Sir,    I    hold    the    King's    Commission.      I 


io8    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

have  traced  these  rebels  here.  Five  minutes 
since  we  were  drinking  at  this  table.  They 
are  up  that  chimney.  Do  your  duty. 

SOLDIERS. 

[Running  to  chimney.]  Here's  a  leg.  Here 
they  are  all  right.  Yank  them  down,  sons. 
We'll  give  you  Killala  Bay.  We'll  give  you 
Erin-go-bragh.  In  the  neck  we'll  give  it 
to  you.  [They  pull  down  three  filthy,  blinking 
scarecrows.} 

[As  they  wipe  the  soot  from  their  eyes  ROCHE 
indicates  them.} 

ROCHE. 

This  [pointing  to  SANDYS]  is  Mr.  Napper 
Tandy.  This  [pointing  to  SIRR]  is  Captain 
Tiger  Roche.  He  looks  a  tiger,  I  must  say. 
This  [pointing  to  FITZPATRICK]  is  that  arch- 
felon,  Mr.  Wolfe  Tone.  Guard  them  care- 
fully, Captain.  They  are  worth  some  seven 
thousand  pounds. 

ALL  THREE. 

[Recognizing  the  Kings  uniform  through  the 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    109 

soot.]  Unhand  us,  Captain.  We  are  the 
King's  Justices.  That  man  there  is  the  rebel. 
That  is  Tiger  Roche,  Captain.  We  are  the 
King's  Justices. 

A  SOLDIER. 
Bleeding  fine  Justices  the  King's  got,  then. 

A  SOLDIER. 

You  and  your  Justices.  We'll  give  you 
all  the  justice  you  need.  An  ounce  of  lead 
is  the  justice  you'll  get. 

ALL  THREE. 

Unhand  us,  will  you!  Captain!  What 
are  you  doing?  That  is  the  rebel.  That  is 
Tiger  Roche.  Take  off  your  men.  We  are 
the  King's  Justices. 

CAPTAIN. 

I've  heard  that  song  before.  Shut  your 
damned  seditious  heads  or  I'll  make  you 
chew  a  trooper's  cook. 

ROCHE. 

[Smiling.]  What  in  the  world's  a  trooper's 
cook?  Captain. 


iio   The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

CAPTAIN. 

It's  a  piece  of  wood,  sir.  It's  all  the  cook 
a  trooper  has.  Between  the  teeth,  it  is  an 
effective  gag. 

ALL  THREE. 
But  hear  us,  Captain. 

A  SOLDIER. 

Blimy!  Shut  your  heads.  Don't  you  hear 
what  the  Captain  tells  you? 

SAND. 
Damn  it,  Captain.    You  shall  suffer — 

FITZ. 
If  there's  justice  in  Ireland. 

A  SOLDIER. 
There's  no  justice  in  Ireland. 

SIRR. 
But  there's  law,  sir.    And  you  shall  have  it. 

CAPTAIN. 

Yes,  there's  law,  and  you  shall  have  it. 
There's  man-o'-war  law — "over  the  face  and 
eyes." 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    1 1  i 

SERGEANT. 
Like  the  cat  give  the  monkey. 

ROCHE. 

You've  secured  their  hands,  sir.  They 
are  three  desperate  felons. 

SERGEANT. 
Their  hands  won't  give  no  trouble. 

CAPTAIN. 
[To  ROCHE.]    Well,  sir.    What  next? 

ROCHE. 

[Writing  at  table.}  O,  march  them  into 
Dublin — this  note  will  explain — and  give 
them  in  charge  to  General  Craig. 

CAPTAIN. 
I  presume  you  will  come,  too,  sir. 

ROCHE. 

I  will  follow  in  a  moment.  I  must  place 
a  seal  on  these  papers  I  have  found  here. 

THE  THREE  JUSTICES. 
That  proves  it,  Captain.     He's  the  rebel. 


ii2    The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

He's    Tiger    Roche.      Don't    let    him    stay 
behind,  Captain. 

ROCHE. 

Captain,  remove  those  babblers.  Silence, 
you  felons.  Give  them  the  trooper's  cook. 
Stay  a  moment.  Leave  a  file  of  men.  They 
can  bear  witness  to  my  sealing  the  papers. 


CAPTAIN. 

I've  a  reputation  to  keep  up.  What! 
Leave  my  men  in  a  tavern?  No,  sir,  and 
I'm  obliged  to  you.  The  hostess  will  be 
witness  enough.  Forward,  my  croppy  boys. 
Quick  march. 

ROCHE. 

But  you'll  have  a  drink  before  you  go, 
Captain? 

CAPTAIN. 

Not  in  working  hours,  thank  ye.  Now, 
my  croppy  boys. 

THE  THREE. 
You  shall  hang  for  this,  Captain. 


The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight    113 

CAPTAIN. 

There's  some  I  know  will  hang  too.  Quick 
march,  I  say.  [He  nods  to  ROCHE.]  I'll  see 
you  later,  at  the  General's. 

ROCHE. 

At  General  Craig's.  But  I  shall  probably 
overtake  you  on  the  road. 

CAPTAIN. 

"We  will  meet  at  that  beautiful  shore." 
Quick  march,  my  sons. 

[Exeunt.     The  troops  pass  on.] 

[A  pause,  during  which  ROCHE  watches  them 
from  the  window.] 

ROCHE. 

Well,  the  fire's  out  and  the  guests  are 
gone.  There's  only  the  bill  to  pay.  [He 
empties  a  purse  on  ike  table.] 

[Enter  HOSTESS.] 

HOSTESS. 
The  boat  is  waiting  below,  sir. 


ii4   The  Sweeps  of  Ninety-Eight 

ROCHE. 
It  is  good-bye,  then. 

HOSTESS. 

You'll  be  coming  again,   sir.     There'll  be 
other  friends  going  the  same  road. 

ROCHE. 

I   shall  be  too  old  when   they  try   again. 
Good-bye. 

Now  with  his  useless  steel  the  beaten  rebel  goes 
To  that  proud  misery's  peace  no  victor  ever  knows. 

Written  in  1905. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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